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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Families' tribute to firefighters | Families' tribute to firefighters |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| The families of the four firefighters killed in a warehouse blaze have spoken of their dedication to the job. | The families of the four firefighters killed in a warehouse blaze have spoken of their dedication to the job. |
| Amanda Baylis, said her son Darren Yates-Badley "loved his job" and serving the Alcester community. | |
| "He always gave 100% - this is a retained station and they are on call 24 hours a day," she added. | |
| He was one of three firefighters given a guard of honour by up to 200 fire staff as their bodies were brought out of the Atherstone-on-Stour plant. | |
| A fourth firefighter died in hospital following Friday evening's blaze. | A fourth firefighter died in hospital following Friday evening's blaze. |
| I can't find anyone in the town who can remember anything which has affected so many people Alcester mayor David Hancox | |
| Mr Yates-Badley's young widow Fay told how the couple had married less than a month ago. | |
| "It was beautiful day," she said. "He was the love of my life and we were meant to be together forever. | |
| "But I know that he will save a place for me in heaven." | |
| She added that her husband had been "a hero". | |
| 'Great sadness' | 'Great sadness' |
| The town of Alcester is about ten miles from Atherstone on Stour. Two of the firefighters, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley, were based at Alcester fire station. | The town of Alcester is about ten miles from Atherstone on Stour. Two of the firefighters, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley, were based at Alcester fire station. |
| Ian Reid, 44, who died in hospital, and John Averis, 27, were based at nearby Stratford-upon-Avon. | Ian Reid, 44, who died in hospital, and John Averis, 27, were based at nearby Stratford-upon-Avon. |
| Fay Yates-Badley said her husband had been a "hero" | |
| Paul Stephens, the father of 20-year-old Ashley, is also a firefighter. He described the family's devastation. | |
| "It's absolutely beyond anybody's worst nightmare to know that your son is in there and we've come away from the incident knowing he's still in there, " he said. | |
| "In 26 years that I have been in the service to never have a problem and then my son after two years loses his life. It's so unreal and so heartbreaking." | |
| Alcester mayor David Hancox said it had had an effect on the whole community but at least now the bodies had been found the "interminable wait" was over. | |
| He said he had been with families and colleagues of the firefighters when the first body was discovered. | |
| Mr Hancox added: "We are a close-knit community and this has touched the lives of every single one of us. | |
| "I can't find anyone in the town who can remember anything which has affected so many people." | "I can't find anyone in the town who can remember anything which has affected so many people." |
| Families tribute | Families tribute |
| The families of the four men have all spoken of their love and dedication for the job. | |
| Ashley Stephens, a retained firefighter with a three-month-old son, followed in his father's footsteps and joined Alcester Fire Station in April 2006. | Ashley Stephens, a retained firefighter with a three-month-old son, followed in his father's footsteps and joined Alcester Fire Station in April 2006. |
| The guard of honour | |
| His fiancee, Emma Crocker, and parents Sharon and Paul said they were numbed by events. | His fiancee, Emma Crocker, and parents Sharon and Paul said they were numbed by events. |
| "He was totally dedicated to his job as a firefighter and he also enjoyed his role working for a local joinery company. Ashley was shy and gentle and loved his job in the fire service," they said. | "He was totally dedicated to his job as a firefighter and he also enjoyed his role working for a local joinery company. Ashley was shy and gentle and loved his job in the fire service," they said. |
| Ian Reid's wife, Julie, said: "Ian loved the fire service, he would spend so much time at the station and would take up any training opportunity that was on offer. | Ian Reid's wife, Julie, said: "Ian loved the fire service, he would spend so much time at the station and would take up any training opportunity that was on offer. |
| "He really got on well with everyone at the station and he knew many of his colleagues from growing up in Stratford." | "He really got on well with everyone at the station and he knew many of his colleagues from growing up in Stratford." |
| His 11-year-old daughter, Sophie, said she would miss him being around all the time. | His 11-year-old daughter, Sophie, said she would miss him being around all the time. |
| "My dad would do anything for me and he would take me to football every weekend. He was a lovely person and would help me with my homework." | "My dad would do anything for me and he would take me to football every weekend. He was a lovely person and would help me with my homework." |
| 'Small fire service' | 'Small fire service' |
| Tony Nutting, of the Fire Brigades Union, spoke of the state of shock which was affecting the service. | Tony Nutting, of the Fire Brigades Union, spoke of the state of shock which was affecting the service. |
| He said: "Certainly for Warwickshire it's going to have a massive effect because they're such a small, tight fire service, a lot of retained duty system people, and it will have a massive effect and it will take a lot of time to recover from." | He said: "Certainly for Warwickshire it's going to have a massive effect because they're such a small, tight fire service, a lot of retained duty system people, and it will have a massive effect and it will take a lot of time to recover from." |
| Police investigations into how the fire started are continuing - 140 police personnel are working on the inquiry, which is still being treated as suspicious. | Police investigations into how the fire started are continuing - 140 police personnel are working on the inquiry, which is still being treated as suspicious. |
| A special incident room has been set up at Stratford police station with up to 200 firefighters who attended the incident due to be questioned. | A special incident room has been set up at Stratford police station with up to 200 firefighters who attended the incident due to be questioned. |
| A total of 160 warehouse employees have already been interviewed. | A total of 160 warehouse employees have already been interviewed. |
| Crews searching for the bodies were hampered by the perilous conditions of the warehouse. | Crews searching for the bodies were hampered by the perilous conditions of the warehouse. |
| Strong winds made it unsafe and search and rescue teams were asked to leave the building on several occasions on Tuesday. | Strong winds made it unsafe and search and rescue teams were asked to leave the building on several occasions on Tuesday. |